American Prestige

Unlocked: The Sino-Soviet Split Primer w/ Jeremy Friedman

Apr 14, 2025

Jeremy Friedman, a Harvard Business School professor and author of "Shadow Cold War," dives into the tumultuous Sino-Soviet split. He unpacks the early collaboration between revolutionary states and the ideological differences that drove them apart by the mid-1950s. The conversation highlights Lenin's critiques of capitalism, Soviet support for anti-colonial movements, and the founding of the Chinese Communist Party. Discover how geopolitical tensions and philosophical underpinnings shaped modern history through this captivating analysis.

44:32

Episode guests

Jeremy Friedman

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The Sino-Soviet split was rooted in contrasting revolutionary ideologies, with China focusing on anti-imperialism while Russia sought anti-autocracy.

The dynamics of the Sino-Soviet relationship evolved from collaboration to tension, particularly following Mao's rise and the implications of the Korean War.

Deep dives

Understanding Revolution: The Sino-Soviet Context

The discussion centers on the contrasting approaches to revolution between China and Russia, emphasizing the fundamental differences rooted in their historical contexts. In Russia, revolution emerged largely from domestic grievances against the Tsarist regime, driven by a progressive intelligentsia seeking to challenge autocratic rule. Conversely, China's revolutionary impetus stemmed from a perceived failure of the Qing dynasty to resist Western imperialism, leading to a more profound sense of national humiliation. This distinction illustrates how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) prioritized anti-imperialism over anti-capitalism, fundamentally shaping its revolutionary activities and ideological framework.

Intro

2min

Roots of Revolution: Russia and China

5min

Lenin on Capitalism and Imperialism

6min

Soviet Foreign Policy and Support for Anti-Colonial Nationalism

2min

The Emergence and Impact of the Comintern

3min

The Founding and Evolution of the CCP

26min

In anticipation for our two-part conversation on the Sino-Soviet split, we're reposting the episode we did laying the groundwork.

Danny and Derek welcome Jeremy Friedman, Marvin Bower associate professor at Harvard Business School, for a discussion about the Sino-Soviet split. They talk about the early days of the revolutionary states’ relationship, the differences in their ideologies, the external forces shaping each nation’s trajectory, the heyday of their cooperation, and the beginning of the fissure in the mid-1950s.

Grab a copy of Jeremy’s great book Shadow Cold War: The Sino-Soviet Competition for the Third World!

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